Programs, Initiatives & Plans

The City Center Partnership (CCP) works to implement the City Center Renaissance Plan and uphold a vibrant City Center through programs and initiatives that help attract increased investment, customers, employees and residents. A key partner in these undertakings are our volunteer committees. Our standing committees and the projects they oversee are:

Committees

Aesthetics & Vitality  |  Learn More About Committee Programs
Business Development & Livability|  Learn More About Committee Programs
CityArt  |  Learn More About Committee Programs

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Initiatives

Event Equipment Support: The City Center Partnership has invested in assets designed to make it easier for organizations to hold special events in the City Center.  Fill out the Request for Use of City Center Partnership Event Equipment application and return it at least two weeks prior to requested use.

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Plans

Plans that shape the work of City Center Partnership include:

City Center Renaissance Plan
City Center Partnership’s mission is to be a catalyst for implementation of the City Center Renaissance Plan. A strong City Center is a mirror of the overall health of the community. The vision of the Renaissance Plan is to redefine and revitalize the downtowns of Mankto and lower North Mankato as the Valley, a center for the region that is cultural, civic, governmental, residential, and the entertainment heartbeat of the area.  The Renaissance Plan called for several component plans including connectivity through Front Street, wayfinding signage, and a master plan for Old Town. | Learn More

Arts, Culture and Community Enhancement Plan
The Arts, Culture and Community Enhancement Plan proposes the development of an Arts and Cultural District. This district will celebrate the artistic and cultural organizations, businesses and creative individuals in the region by being a rich tapestry of social vibrancy, with a spirit of cooperation that sparks conversation, creativity, education, involvement and innovation throughout the community. | Learn More

Arts & Historic District Community Dialogue & Plan
The Arts & Historic District Dialogue is a community initiative coordinated by the City Center Partnership to assess how we might proactively cultivate our Arts & Historic District into an authentic and sustainable top five arts and cultural district in the Upper Midwest.

Belgrade Master Plan
The purpose of the Belgrade Avenue Master Plan is to achieve a framework for investment in the Central Business District (CBD) and to achieve a shared vision of the future of the CBD by the City, citizens and property owners in the downtown area. | Learn More

Front Street Connectivity Plan
The Front Street Connectivity Plan was the result of a multi-year planning and community engagement process of the City Center Partnership in collaboration with the City of Mankato. It is a detailed implementation plan that expands a key initiative of the community visioning document, the City Center Renaissance Plan. | Learn More

Get Creative Plan
A framework for artistic, cultural and economic vitality in Greater Mankato. | Learn More

Lighting Plan
The Lighting Plan’s goal is to bring additional decorative lighting throughout Mankato for a more connected pedestrian experience at night. By using a variety of individual elements throughout the separate neighborhoods of the City, the city as a whole will begin to visually connect and share a common aesthetic. | Learn More

Old Town Master Plan
The Old Town Master Plan is divided into four sections: Preservation and Culture; Renaissance and Renewal; Connections and Linkages’ and Partnerships to Build a Village. Key initiatives include pedestrian/connectivity enhancements, traffic modifications, historic preservation, incorporation of public art, commercial and residential rehabilitation, design standards compatible with established building mass and composition, redevelopment opportunities, and forming partnerships to accomplish several of the implementation tactics. | Learn More

Open Space & Tactical Urbanism Plan
The Open Space & Tactical Urbanism Plan is an initiative of the City Center Partnership and seeks to assess the attributes of your City Center public spaces and seek appropriate programing for those spaces. The goal is to activate the public realm and enhance the vibrancy of our City Center. This plan is currently in development.

Wayfinding Signage Plan
The Wayfinding Signage Plan exists to improve the multi-modal and pedestrian wayfind experience in the City Center through wayfinding/directional signage that guides daily users and visitors from major gateways into and around the City Center. | Learn More

Advocacy

Advocacy works to increase the awareness of how submitted and vetted projects align with and support the City Center Renaissance Plan. Such projects are deemed to greatly assist in building a vibrant City Center. Key positions taken:

Belgrade Avenue Plan and Corridor Study (2016-2017): The City Center Partnership partnered with the City of North Mankato to lead a community engagement process focused on achieving a unified vision for the future of Belgrade Avenue that increases pedestrian access and comfort, improves safety, enhances a lively, welcoming downtown feel and increases the aesthetic appeal of the Central Business District.

Old Town Master Plan (2016): This plan, for which the City Center Partnership led the community engagement process, guides the future of the City Center’s Old Town district, with calls for improved pedestrian access and walkability, enhanced alleyways, preservation of historic architecture and increased activity and events.

Civic Center Late Night Access (2015): The City Center Partnership advocated for passage through the Mankato Civic Center until 2:30am to improve connectivity and increase walkability of the Entertainment District and downtown core.

Front Street Connectivity Plan (2014): Focused on district enhancement through community engagement, the plan lays out key Implementation Tactics that will enhance the economic viability, market position and accessibility of South Front Street while creating a destination through its pedestrian focused redesign. It is to become an addendum of the City Center Renaissance Plan.

Tailwind Project (2013): The project is slated to bring major new office towers and mixed use retail/residential to the Entertainment District and is an important infusion of private capital that will greatly enhance customer activity, business attraction and district perceptions.

Marigold Development (2012): This development will attract increased residential to Belgrade Ave. Needed to support a critical mass of population that will frequent the area shops and services, this increase in density is necessary to remain competitive and to continue supporting a vibrant business community.

Cherry & Warren Two-Way Conversions (2011): As highlighted in the City Center Renaissance Plan, converting these streets to tow-way traffic will support better traffic patterns, attract more customers, and encourage business activity.